Need for turtle-safe nets in Penang, Malaysia

Looi Sue-Chern, New Straits Times 18 Dec 09;

GEORGE TOWN: Deep-sea fishermen here may soon be forced to install turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in their trawl nets to protect the endangered species. Fisheries Department (marine resources management) section head Datuk Ahmad Saktian Langgang said the TEDs would be made compulsory if the population count of the species worsened.

He said there were no laws making TEDs compulsory at the moment, as the department was still conducting more research on the device.

"We have tried to introduce this device, which cost about RM1,000 and measures about 60cm long, but fishermen have found it unsuitable for their boats. For now, we can only raise the fishermen's awareness and encourage them to use the device to avoid capturing turtles by accident," he said yesterday after an awareness programme for fishermen at the Teluk Bahang National Park near here.

Ahmad Saktian said the department would also consider making the TEDs a prerequisite for fishermen's licence renewals, as well as introducing incentives.

Penang Fisheries Department resources management and protection branch head Mohd Rafi Hasan said the TEDs, which allow captured turtles to escape fishermen's nets, were unpopular with fishermen as they get jammed in the ships' pulley when the nets are hauled.

"The fishermen complained that the device complicates their operations.

"Therefore, there is a need for us to restudy the device and alter its design to suit fishermen's use," he said, adding that Fisheries' research unit in Terengganu was currently looking into the matter.

He said the use of TEDs by local fishermen would also enable Malaysian seafood to be exported to the United States and the European Union, where TED use was a must.

On whether Penang was facing problems with accidental turtle captures, Mohd Rafi said local fishermen have been very cooperative with the department, reporting all accidental captures immediately to enable swift release of the animals.

The penalty for capturing and keeping endangered marine species under the Fisheries Act is six months jail and RM5,000 fine.